Health Fund

The Breed Council has a Health Fund which has been established to help support our research and health improvement activities.

Over the past few years it has become increasingly obvious that, as a breed, we need to have access to funds to support and enable our health improvement plans. In 2010, the Wirehaired Dachshund Club generously subsidised the Lafora Screening programme so that MWHD breeders could take advantage of the available test. In 2011 we approached all the Breed Clubs, the Wirehaired Dachshund Trust and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust for donations to support the roll-out of a UK Lafora Screening Programme. Collectively, they have committed over £35,000 to this programme and we are extremely grateful for their generosity.

The Breed Council agreed to set up its own Health Fund at its October 2011 Council meeting and made an initial donation of £500 from its reserves. Thanks to the Dachshund Club and the generosity of exhibitors at their show in November 2011, we added a further £460 to the newly established fund. We are very grateful to the Dachshund Club for their support and to Jeff Crawford, in particular, who managed the auction which raised this money. The Dachshund Club has continued to support the Fund by organising its "Loose Change Challenge" in 2012-13.

We were also delighted when Helga Klausgraber raised £320 with "Lottie's walk for life" in March 2013, which also raised £680 for the AHT.

In 2012 the Fund made donations to the Dick White Charitable Foundation for their support in running a Health Seminar and to the WHDC Lafora Research Fund. By April 2013, the Health Fund had a balance of £2,200 and during 2013 expects to make donations towards two areas of research:

Distichiasis in Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds, in conjunction with the AHT and Professor Sheila Cripsin

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease), which is known to have a high prevalence in some European countries

These two programmes are designed to investigate the prevalence of these two conditions in UK Dachshunds.

We know that research into Back Disease (IVDD) to be conducted by the Animal Health Trust will require significant funding – possibly up to £20,000. So, having our own Health Fund will open up more opportunities for Dachshund owners to support the work of the Breed Council and help us target our resources in line with our Health Improvement Plans.

If you would like to raise funds for us, or send a donation, cheques should be made payable to: